Reporting Job Search to Unemployment

I don't know if this applies in all states guys, but as January 1, 2012, the state of Pennsylvania now requires anybody who's on unemployment to keep track of their job search. I learned about it on the Career Link website. Just go to www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us to find out.

Back in the 1980's, when I was on welfare, there was a program here called the PEP (Pennsylvania Employables Program). You had to report your job search each week to the local welfare office. The woman that handled this program at the time said that I was the only one who sent in a job search report.

Of course, I haven't been on unemployment since 2004. When I was on it before, I didn't have to do this. But now it's changed, and everybody here in Pennsylvania who's on it, has to do it.

I was on this for about 72 weeks, and never once had to submit a form with proof of my job search. They had a form, and I was supposed to be filling it out, but they never asked for it. All I had to do, was certify online that I could work, and was looking for work.

Don't remind me...I made more in unemployment to *not* work, than I make to work now. But I'd much rather be working.

And the people who do work a few months on a temp job get "punished" for doing so which is just the opposite of what should happen. When you benefit year comes up and if you work they take the more current wages in consideration and in some cases you will get a lower rate, plus the temp agency will fight your claim in every way they can. If you do find a temp job, your time is extended, but at a lower rate, they should get more for trying and incentive and more people would try harder to find even a temp job.

If I were on unemployment today, I would have been under a lot more pressure to apply for a job; especially since you know that have to report your job search to unemployment.

Even when I was on unemployment, I felt anxious and guilty if I turned down a job that I felt wasn't suited to me. I know this from experience. Back in 1989, when this medical telemarketing firm closed its branch office, I applied for, and was hired at, another telemarketing firm that I hated; and I quit after two weeks. Because I quit without a necessary and compelling reason, I was denied unemployment. It taught me a lesson right there an then.

Now that I'm on SSDI, I can take my time to find the right job. And if the job doesn't work out, I won't be penalized by Social Security. However, if I go over $1000 a month, I will be penalized.

Kim: I know how it is with temp agencies. When you sign up with them, you have to call in at least once a week; depending on the agency. If you don't, they can deny you your unemployment. Thank God that I don't have to worry about that anymore.

Our legislators seem to think that it more important to have a job, even if it means you are going broke because you have to commute farther for a minimum wage job than to apply for unemployment. I have not had a solid job for over four years, and will not apply for UC. Just don't be age 50 +, you will never get solid work. Employers will use every tactic to not hire you. FIling a complaint does no good either. Just go to qualified web sites to advertise all the poor ways you were treated, and boycott these firms.

They want you to get a job, any job and get off the welfare rolls it is costiing the government too much money. But look that the billions that the US can sent to help other countries with their disasters. Will they help the people who need to rebuild their homes after the tornados this week in IN, IL, MO, AL and others who have lost everything?

Well maybe I got lost in the pile somewhere, but I was on unemployment for a year and a half, and never once had to name the potential employers that I had applied to. Never once had to submit any form.

Every week, I got online and answered three questions. Was I able to work? Was I looking? Did I look this week? And boom, check in the bankaccount. I had to renew a few times, but it was never a problem.

It was almost too easy to do, and had me wondering how many people were just skating along not looking for spit.

I never kept a record of who I applied to. They have never checked. They don't check unless something looks suspicious. They have way too many people unemployed to worry about honest people job hunting. Follow the rules and no problem.

Only time I had to report the places I applied to was once I got to a certain point with all the benefit extensions. Half the time I just put in any old company name. How do they know if I walked in the door of the company and asked? They didn't drive around following me. I was looking for work, but some weeks there just wasn't much.

When the latest unemployment extension was approved last month, so were other things to keep tabs on us. We will have to submit the paperwork to show that we were looking as we claim we are when we call in every 2 weeks and have to give that to them in person. Don't know if other states have this new rule, look on your states website and find out.

Every state is different. We have to contact 2 employers a week. I know other states want as many as 5 a week. That doesn't seem so bad until you start running out of places to try.

You know they want to keep tabs on people because so many enjoy being unemployed and want to take advantage of the system. *rolls eyes*

I have never meant very many people that like being laid off. Most are really trying to find work. Only ones that seem to enjoy it are those that are on temporary/seasonal lay off. They know they are going back to work and don't sweat it much.

designer bee, here in Texas it's 5 contacts. I'm sure the definitions for contacts varies as well, but I honestly think 5 contacts is not difficult, even in a very dry market.

Here, contacts are pretty much anything job search related that involves an actual contact. So my 5 contacts for this week could be an application on Indeed, the networking happy hour I attended last night, the phone call I had with a recruiter, the email I sent to a hiring manager about possible opportunities, and attending a resume workshop at a local job club. I've got five times my minimum contacts this week, and the week isn't over yet.

But they do check; that job club (a nonprofit started by a local workforce specialist who's outstanding) makes sure to educate people about those job search records. The last time I was long-term unemployed someone got audited and had to prove that attending the job club counted as a contact. The guy audited couldn't have been a more upstanding guy, and was very proactive in his job search.

I think they are trying to find ways to get people off the unemployment rolls and take something. The fact that the government cannot afford to keep paying out benefits to millions of people. We are trying, but when we send out resumes, we don't hear back, we do go on interviews, and after telling out how great we are, they never seen to pick you, if employers don't want to spend the $ to hire, and the govt finds ways to kick you off, we are stuck in the middle. If we were working we would be getting more than sitting home collecting, so why are thy telling us we are lazy? If everyone who was laid off found a job in less than 6 months, not only would that govt save money, but the people in the unemployment office could sit around and surf the internet instead of advertising that they are so busy that they cannot take a lunch. Do I feel sorry for you? No! If you hired more unemployed workers to staff you office, maybe you would have time to take your hour lunch.

Kim in Chicago, Illinois said: I think they are trying to find ways to get people off the unemployment rolls and take something. The fact that the government cannot afford to keep paying out benefits to millions of people. We are trying, but when we send out resumes, we don't hear back, we do go on interviews, and after telling out how great we are, they never seen to pick you, if employers don't want to spend the $ to hire, and the govt finds ways to kick you off, we are stuck in the middle. If we were working we would be getting more than sitting home collecting, so why are thy telling us we are lazy? If everyone who was laid off found a job in less than 6 months, not only would that govt save money, but the people in the unemployment office could sit around and surf the internet instead of advertising that they are so busy that they cannot take a lunch. Do I feel sorry for you? No! If you hired more unemployed workers to staff you office, maybe you would have time to take your hour lunch.

funny, the staff in the unemployment office where I live do absolutely nothing all day. what a cushy job with great benefits.

With the latest extension of benefits they are now requiring people who are on extended benefits to come into the office for an in person interview and complete 2 forms for them. The first being your weekly job search form and second the assessment review form. They will not let you do these over the phone and if you don't comply they will cut you off. Here is the link with the 2 forms for those in IL that are in the early stages of benefits, you might want to prepare yourself in the question of how they can help you find a job. I would just like to put, just tell me where to go, when to start and the pay. Without the multi level interview process, just match my skills and hire me! www.ides.illinois.gov/ right side of page

^ I'm surprised that they are able to do that in Chicago. If they tried that here in Boston, they'd have to hire a fleet of people just to keep up with the fleet of unemployed people now needing to be processed every week. Not to mention the number of incidents that are going to happen once the system declares that a person has exhausted their benefits. That's a lot easier to tell someone with an email, than to their face. =X

Needed a job like yesterday in Chicago, Illinois said: With the latest extension of benefits they are now requiring people who are on extended benefits to come into the office for an in person interview and complete 2 forms for them. The first being your weekly job search form and second the assessment review form. They will not let you do these over the phone and if you don't comply they will cut you off. Here is the link with the 2 forms for those in IL that are in the early stages of benefits, you might want to prepare yourself in the question of how they can help you find a job. I would just like to put, just tell me where to go, when to start and the pay. Without the multi level interview process, just match my skills and hire me! www.ides.illinois.gov/ right side of page

Instead of doing something productive like finding ways to increase jobs and things like lower taxes for companies, getting rid of obamacare, our "dear" government's solution is to raise taxes on those who can't afford it (like us unemployed) and making it harder to collect benefits. Go figure.

This is only a way to get more people off the roles faster. Some people who are collecting from the last employer have since moved out of state and what they are suppose to come back to IL just for the useless interview? With millions of people looking how are they going to find people jobs? They know there will be some that will not come in and they will be cut off, others will say that they don't have any records because they are not looking, they will be cut, some move and don't have an address if they are living in shelters or keep moving around, as they stay with anyone who will let them stay with them for a while, that is how the state will save big $ by stop paying out to people who are just collecting and are not serious about working. Then they will be proud to say that the states unemployment rate when down.

Colorado has always required people collecting unemployment to make at least 5 "contacts" a week, and they can at any time ask for a list of who you've contacted. I imagine employers find this rule to be an aggravation, as it encourages people to apply for jobs that they aren't qualified for just to make their quota.

John in Catonsville, Maryland said: Instead of doing something productive like finding ways to increase jobs and things like lower taxes for companies, getting rid of obamacare, our "dear" government's solution is to raise taxes on those who can't afford it (like us unemployed) and making it harder to collect benefits. Go figure.

The EFFECTIVE corporate tax rate in the US is already the lowest in the industrialized world. Employment in the US is not being inhibited by taxes on corporations.

I don't know if I should say this, but I was on unemployment for about 18 months through 10/11, and not once did they demand proof of my job search. They made me go to an orientation at a career center (which was dumb) and several times made me come into the unemployment office to get an extension (which was probably about as low as I've ever felt), but as to those "I've applied to 5 places a week" forms, they handed them to me and never once asked for them back.

It's probably changed now, though. I don't think they were ever expecting so many people to stay on their list for years.

Nick each state is different. Let me tell you how IL works. When you first go into the office to apply they do give you the form and tell you that you have to be actively looking for work and that they can request the form at any time. They have never asked to see my form, but when your last employer is an agency, they try to get off the hook and tell them you are not looking. I did get a phone interview and they asked me to prove that I was looking for the week in question and I had an email that I told the agency I was available and a few other jobs that I applied to online, just printed off the emails and faxed to them and they were satisfied. When we call in for benefits the call can be over 5 mins, as we have to answer the same questions EACH time we call.
Are you looking? Did you refuse any offers for work?

Where you available and able to work each day in your normal work week? Are you filing a Social Security or Workmans comp claim? Did you attend school? Receive training? Do you certify that the answers you gave are true? Did you work? Did you receive or will you receive holiday pay? Yeah I know it is a lot but that is how we have to do it. When we get to the extended state we are required to submit our 5 jobs per week search to them, but only those people do others have to produce if they ask for it. I wonder if they just file it when they get it. If it is missing they will notice and suspend benefits. I believe that the extended state work search record are for all states that are giving benefits for weeks 79-99, I see that you did not reach week 79 so that is why you did not have to do it.

Huh. I never got to 79 because at the time, it wasn't an option. I was basically told around 1.5 years that my benefits were exhausted. I had to answer some questions online every week that were basically what you describe there. But I only had to explain my situation to an actual person three times...the initial application, and two extensions. I never once had to prove a darn thing, related to the job search.

Kind of a blessing, in a weird way. I was technically fired from my last job (manager is a witch, whole other story), which means (I think) that I shouldn't have been eligible for benefits at all. But I didn't even have to go to a hearing...they auto agreed to it. I think the guy at the unemployment office was on my side, and entered "laid off" or something. If I hadn't gotten those benefits, I'd be homeless right now...no joke.

When you apply in IL they ask if you were fired or quit, and if you were they schedule a phone interview to hear your side of the story. If the company forced you to quit by making things hard for you and you can prove that it was not your fault you might win, and if you were fired and they did not give you fair warnings you could also win, but they have to hear both sides out before they decide and if you win you will get back pay as long as you certified while the process was being investigated. The length of benefits varies by state based on your states unemployment rate. We are at the max, but according to this you are at 86 weeks right now, but that will go down later this year. money.cnn.com/news/economy/storysupplement/unemployment_benefits/?iid=EL

In CA you only do it when you are asked to, in the extended unemployment program in the upper tier.
You can be called when you register for your benefits to answer questions.
You can put down job agencies on there. You should have job agencies that you can submit resumes to.
Also add Monster and Careerbuilder as places you can submit resumes to.
You should appeal if your benefits are reduces or stopped. You may get your benefits reinstated.
If you temp for more than two weeks, you need to reinstate your benefits as it the temp pay would be considered excessive. If you temp for more than two weeks, and it is lower pay, your benefits may be reduced according to your pay. I am wary of jobs I take these days.

California sent me a letter around june 1st demanding 3 contacts, they want the date, time, business name, contact person name and result of discussion. Letter says turn it in every 2 weeks or lose your benefits.

In IL they want to see the job search form and also a form with questions on it, and when you start extended benefits they want to see you in person to "interview" you. Most of the places I apply to don't respond, and that is what I will be telling the unemployment office when I do go in. They must know that already, because they have to talk to everyone who is collecting benefits, so they story will be pretty much the same. How can you help me find a job? Give me yours. Problem solved.

In Indiana in addition to submitting 3 job searches online, u must also turn in a sheet bi-weekly with your 6 job searches and 4 (2 each wk.) "Job search activities", topics/activities, "what "you learned from the activities, and "how" it has benefitted your job search. If u dont completely fill these out you will be cut off benefits in a heartbeat. Just like someone else said above, I dont understand why they dont have some type of job placement program in place once you take training(s) and meet specific requirements. Even if the businesshiring a person receives some type of tax break for cooperating. Its a win-win! People get a good job, busi.ess gets new hires, and the government is still saving money rather than paying benefits for over a year or more, and the economy grows while the unemployment rate declines! Hmmm, sounds too damn simple huh?

It truly sounds like Indiana is trying to find ways to cut people off. I was in construction..... there simply haven't been 6 jobs in that industry to apply to for months, forget about weeks. I do not see any point to applying to positions which require a completely different degree than I have or years of experience I don't have.

What do I learn from my job search activities each week? That the economy is not recovering. That something has to give, have no idea if that will be me snapping or companies actually hiring for full time positions at a reasonable pay rate with benefits......

Job search activities? Put going into meet people at the staffing agencies. What did I learn? That they really don't have jobs and post fake jobs on a daily basis. What do they expect from people is crazy. Like they have the time to read all the nonsense. It is just a way to get people off the rolls faster. They figure that some will not complete the exercise and will be off the unemployment, and then they will say hey, IN unemployment is lower. Create incentives to hire unemployed workers vs those who are job hopping.

Recently I received a letter that told me that I had to come in and meet with them in person. This is required when you go onto the Federal benefits (Tier 1) They have a class that is an hour long and require you to sign up on the states website and look for jobs there that they claim are posted before being released to the general public. So I go home and signed in and the jobs that I see are mostly from Office Team, tell me those fake jobs are posted before they go on Careerbuilder? That is a big bunch of crock if I ever heard of it. On the sheet it has space for 5 jobs a week, the letter does not say you have to submit 5, and the guy said that he wants to see 5 jobs a week. I contact agencies and he said I can put the same agencies every week if I contact them. If you do not go to that class your benefits stop after the regular benefits run out, they will back pay you if a week or so lapse from the time it ends till you get into the office. Class tells you that everyone should have a resume, that is something they should tell you when you first sign up, not 6 months later.

I have been on unemployment in Colorado for just over a year. I have to say that asking people to make five job contacts a week is funny when no one seems to be hiring anyway....but I have done what I was suppose to do. I have made my job contacts , I have put in for jobs that I was most definitely qualified to do and never even got an interview. In fact, until recently, most places never even responded to my applications and inquiries at all.
I was suppose to attend an EUC orientation a few days ago and I was suppose to bring a minimum of 6 weeks worth of job contact information. I had to reschedule the meeting....since I have finally found work and had to begin paid training on the originally scheduled orientation date. So, when I go to my 'rescheduled' orientation, I will be sure and thank them for making me drive 40 miles to the work force center, because gas is so wonderfully affordable these days.
I will also have to thank them for making me miss a day of paid training because I " have to attend the orientation because you have been on unemployment" is what I was told.
Hey, I found work....isn't that what I was suppose to do? And yet they force me to miss it in order to tell me HOW to find work!!!! Ironic isn't it?!

If you have found work, then you are no longer on benefits. This is if you are collecting EUC benefits. If you do not go in for the orientation they will not pay you most likely, sounds like you don't need to go in, unless you plan on staying on benefits. If you need it down the road, then you should go at that time. I would call them if you can get through to confirm before you make the trip in and lose time from you new job.

Hey guys, new here. I saw this post and I actually just received a letter to go in and take the work assessment form and work search records. Of those of you from Illinois who have gone through this process what can I be expecting when I go in? Thanks

Hello, I am new on this forum. Please tell me if you know the answer to this question.

If I take a paid short term assignment for the government to Get Out The Vote over the next 40 days, will my unemployment compensation go on hold and continue after completion?

Or, will I lose my unemployment?

The short term assignment- 'Gov employer' does not qualify to pay unemployment. Also, I would be paid less than my previous qualified job in which I currently collecting unemployment. I have not exhausted stage 1 of my insurance and I have 6 weeks left.

jenab in Austin, Texas said: Keep the job search records; you will need it if you are trying to get any other assistance. But more importantly, if you get audited as someone drawing UIB and you don't have it, or haven't met your minimum "contacts" then you will have to pay back all the money you took from UI, as well as face other penalties.

I have been scheduled for a mandatory reemployment assessment meeting --Texas Workforce. The letter states that I need to bring 'your most current completed work search log'. I am wondering if you know if this means for the current pay request period or do they want every log for every week that I have been on unemploymnet?

I did not realize that the letter asked me to bring the log so I showed up with out a log at all. The lady said I could fill it out there if I could remember all the contacts for that week; which of course I couldn't so we rescheduled my appointment.

Now I am confused because I am not sure if I need to bring every log or just my current week log. I have applied for my # of job searches each week but I never really keep the info on the forms provided by TWC. I have kept them on my computer in emails, sent emails, and PDF of the jobs I applied for; since I mostly apply for jobs online.

Whatever information you can send me would be great. I am going to the meeting next week and want to be prepared but don't want to waste my time playing catch up if I don't need to..... Thanks for your help!

jobless in Austin, Texas said: I have been scheduled for a mandatory reemployment assessment meeting --Texas Workforce. The letter states that I need to bring 'your most current completed work search log'. I am wondering if you know if this means for the current pay request period or do they want every log for every week that I have been on unemploymnet?

I did not realize that the letter asked me to bring the log so I showed up with out a log at all. The lady said I could fill it out there if I could remember all the contacts for that week; which of course I couldn't so we rescheduled my appointment.

Now I am confused because I am not sure if I need to bring every log or just my current week log. I have applied for my # of job searches each week but I never really keep the info on the forms provided by TWC. I have kept them on my computer in emails, sent emails, and PDF of the jobs I applied for; since I mostly apply for jobs online.

Whatever information you can send me would be great. I am going to the meeting next week and want to be prepared but don't want to waste my time playing catch up if I don't need to..... Thanks for your help!

NEVER MIND: FOUND THE ANSWER ----- SEE BELOW:

Although claimants are required to provide only their most recent work search NLF
log, if they present a log that includes more than one week of work search
activities, Boards must ensure that Workforce Solutions Office staff reviews the
entire work search log.

Joe Gagill in Middletown, New York said: Here, the useless Govt DOL staff don't nitpick your work search log. As long as it appears your trying to find work.

I like to go on record and state that the Dept of Labor is one of the most useless Govt agencies out there.

I couldn't agree with you more. I live in NYS also, in Brooklyn. The DOL ofc is useless and the workers are extremely lazy...they haven't helped me much really. They seem to want to help the low class lazy ghetto people more because they know they will take a job for $8 an hour to supplement their welfare...meanwhile, they treat hard working people, degree and no degree alike, like dog crap ( I am not dissing on the poor hard workers here, just the lazy leaches, the ones that take part time low paying jobs just to stay on welfare, not the ones that work their ass off to put food on the table). They do this because they know we won't accept a job for such low pay and/or it does not match up with our skills.

I actually get really really angry when I think about the DOL workers.

There are actually people there that just walk around all day because they have no work to do. They go to the supply room, go to the bathroom, walk around in the conference room because they have no work!

Nanlisa in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania said: I don't know if this applies in all states guys, but as January 1, 2012, the state of Pennsylvania now requires anybody who's on unemployment to keep track of their job search. I learned about it on the Career Link website. Just go to www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us to find out.

Back in the 1980's, when I was on welfare, there was a program here called the PEP (Pennsylvania Employables Program). You had to report your job search each week to the local welfare office. The woman that handled this program at the time said that I was the only one who sent in a job search report.

Of course, I haven't been on unemployment since 2004. When I was on it before, I didn't have to do this. But now it's changed, and everybody here in Pennsylvania who's on it, has to do it.

Let me know if this applies in the other states as well. Thanks guys.

This applies in Illinois, also. You have to keep track of your job search and you are supposed to produce a copy of the form when asked.

Lynn from Colorado said: I have been on unemployment in Colorado for just over a year. I have to say that asking people to make five job contacts a week is funny when no one seems to be hiring anyway....but I have done what I was suppose to do. I have made my job contacts , I have put in for jobs that I was most definitely qualified to do and never even got an interview. In fact, until recently, most places never even responded to my applications and inquiries at all.
I was suppose to attend an EUC orientation a few days ago and I was suppose to bring a minimum of 6 weeks worth of job contact information. I had to reschedule the meeting....since I have finally found work and had to begin paid training on the originally scheduled orientation date. So, when I go to my 'rescheduled' orientation, I will be sure and thank them for making me drive 40 miles to the work force center, because gas is so wonderfully affordable these days.
I will also have to thank them for making me miss a day of paid training because I " have to attend the orientation because you have been on unemployment" is what I was told.
Hey, I found work....isn't that what I was suppose to do? And yet they force me to miss it in order to tell me HOW to find work!!!! Ironic isn't it?!